Method and system for rounding with availability check

Abstract

 A computer-implemented method for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding specifications are provided, the method comprising a first step of rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding specification, the required quantity of products; a second step of checking availability of the rounded quantity of products; and a third step of rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding specification, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for managing inventory within one or more e-business systems. Such an e-business system may comprise procurement systems, sales information systems, purchasing systems, logistic information systems and/or supply chain management systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for optimizing the result of an availability check process within a supply chain management system to guarantee that the quantity of products confirmed by an availability check is as near as possible to the required quantity of products.

[0002] Today, the success of a business company depends essentially on the requirement that customer demands on products and services be fulfilled quickly, cost-efficiently and with the highest quality. Therefore, many business companies use or implement supply chain management systems to control and optimize their production processes and costs.

[0003] Supply chain management may comprise the practice of controlling the flow of goods, services, information and/or finances between the involved parties such as manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers. This process may include order processing, information feedback and the efficient and timely delivery of goods and/or services.

[0004] In current supply chain management systems demand-quantity-oriented rounding algorithms are used which round for larger or smaller package units in very rough rounding steps. Package units may be packet, pallet, carton, transporter or container. Such rounding algorithms round a given quantity of products to a multiple of packages whereby the rounding result is irrespective of the given quantity of products and the different package units. Demand-quantity-oriented rounding does not give the possibility to control the calculation of the rounding result. Prior supply chain management systems, while performing an availability check, round the required quantity of products before the check or the available quantity of products after the check.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In general, in one aspect, this invention provides a computer-implemented method for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding specifications are provided, the method comprising

a first step of rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding specification, the required quantity of products;

a second step of checking availability of the rounded quantity of products; and

a third step of rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding specification, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products.

[0006] Rounding prior to and after the availability check rounds the available quantity of products as near as possible to the required quantity of products according to a predetermined rounding specification.

[0007] Further embodiments of this invention can comprise the following features.

[0008] In one embodiment the rounding specification comprises at least one packaging specification wherein the packaging specification comprises
at least one rounding rule,
a plurality of different package sizes and
tolerance values associated with the plurality of package sizes;

[0009] For different package size different tolerance values can be defined.

[0010] The method may further comprise a fourth step of creating a remaining requirement of products if the difference between the rounded required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products is larger than the smallest package size given by the packaging specification, whereby the remaining quantity is given by the difference between the required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products.

[0011] Such a remaining quantity may be used for checking the availability of the remaining quantity of products against further product locations, for example. The rounded available quantity of products may be delivered to the customer as a partial delivery.

[0012] Furthermore, the rounding comprises at least a package-rounding-process and a tolerance-rounding-process, whereby the package-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a multiple of the smallest package size, and whereby the tolerance-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a predetermined package size.

[0013] The rounding depends on the required quantity of products. If the required quantity of products is within a tolerance interval which is given by the tolerance values, the rounding process performs a tolerance-rounding-process. Otherwise, the rounding process performs a package-rounding-process.

[0014] Tolerance intervals are determined which define upper and/or lower bounds around the package sizes for packages larger then the smallest package.

[0015] For the smallest package unit no intervals are defined. Therefore, for the smallest package unit the package-rounding-process is performed.

[0016] The tolerance-rounding-process is performed if the packaging specification comprises valid tolerance values and the required quantity is within one of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

[0017] The package-rounding-process is performed if the predetermined packaging specification comprises invalid tolerance values.

[0018] The package-rounding-process is performed if the predetermined packaging specification comprises valid tolerances and the given quantity is out of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

[0019] One advantage is that by defining the width of an interval it may be controlled which rounding process has to be performed.

[0020] In one embodiment the rounding rule comprises at least one of a rounding-down rule, a rounding-up rule, and a rounding-to-the-nearest rule.

[0021] Furthermore, the required quantity of products is rounded up to the smallest package size if the required quantity is smaller than the smallest package size.

[0022] Therefore, the inventive method can avoid a situation where single pieces products are delivered.

[0023] In one embodiment, prior to the first step of rounding, there can be implemented the following steps:

determining a valid packaging specification out of the plurality of packaging specifications,

determining tolerance values from the determined packaging specification,

evaluating as to whether the determined tolerance values are valid,

determining the tolerance intervals given by the determined tolerance values if the determined tolerance values are valid,

checking as to whether the required quantity is within one of the determined tolerance intervals.

[0024] Furthermore, this invention provides an apparatus comprising
a data storage device which stores a plurality of rounding specifications;
means for determining a valid packaging specification;
means for performing a rounding process; and
means for performing an availability check,
whereby the means for determining a valid packaging specification, for performing a rounding process and for performing an availability check are
adapted to perform the following steps:

determining a valid packaging specification;

determining tolerance values from the packaging specification;

evaluating as to whether the determined tolerance values are valid;

determining the tolerance intervals given by the determined tolerance values if the determined tolerance values are valid;

checking as to whether the required quantity is within one of the determined tolerance intervals;

rounding, according to the packaging specification, the required quantity of products;

checking availability of the rounded quantity of products;

rounding down, according to the packaging specification, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products; and

creating, if necessary, a remaining requirement of products.

[0025] Furthermore, the invention comprises a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code for performing the inventive methods, when loaded into a computer-system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments and aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

[0027] In the drawings:

Fig. 1

illustrates an embodiment of a sourcing process of goods or products using the inventive method within the supply chain management system;

Fig. 2

illustrates the basic steps of the inventive method; and

Fig. 3

illustrates a program flow of an exemplary rounding algorithm used within the inventive method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In a supply chain management system rounding with availability check confirms a rounded quantity of products as near as possible to the required quantity of products. If in one embodiment, for rounding, a packsize-oriented-rounding algorithm is used, the availability check confirms multiples of package size to guarantee that the delivered quantity is only a multiple of given package sizes. Using only a multiple of packages, the packaging and the transportation may be better optimized.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a sourcing process of products. The customer sends an order 1 to the dealer. The order 1 may be in the form of an electronic order transmitted by email or a traditional order transmitted by mail. The order comprises information about the ordered product and the ordered quantity. The dealer feeds the data about the order 1 into the supply chain management system 2 which processes this order 1 and provides information for the delivery step 7. An availability check process 3 is performed within the supply chain management system 2 with respect to the ordered product and the ordered quantity.

[0030] In the supply chain management system 2, the availability check process 3 verifies whether the ordered quantity of products is available in the warehouses 10. The warehouses 10 may comprise several sub-warehouses at different locations, whereby the products located in these warehouses are managed within the supply chain management system 2.

[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, the availability check process 3 performs

• a rounding process 4 before the availability check 5,
• an availability check 5, and
• a rounding process 6 after the availability check 5.
  In order to perform the rounding processes 4 and 6, in one embodiment of the invention, the availability check process 3, or in other embodiments the rounding processes, determines a valid packaging specification out of a plurality of packaging specifications 11. The packaging specifications are stored within the supply chain management system 2, and the supply chain management system 2 may provide different packaging specifications 11 for different warehouses.
  The quantity of the products to be delivered is calculated by the supply chain management system 2 in consideration of several packaging specifications 11 within the availability check process 3.
  The sourcing process ends by delivering 7 the products to the customer.
  Fig. 2 shows the steps of the inventive method. In one embodiment, the process is called by an external computer system. The external system may be a customer relationship management system.
  The process, starting with step 100, receives from the calling system an order specifying the originally required quantity of products. The originally required quantity of products is rounded in step 200 according to the parameters of a predetermined rounding specification. Step 200 is executed before any availability check.
  A rounding specification defines among other things also the rounding rule. The rounding rule defines in which direction a rounding has to be done, e.g. rounding up, rounding down or rounding to the nearest.
  In the following step 300, an availability check of the rounded required quantity is performed. In the next step 350, the availability of the rounded required quantity on stock is checked by comparing the rounded required quantity with the available quantity of the availability check. If the rounded required quantity equals to the available quantity, the method ends with step 500.
  Otherwise, if the rounded required quantity is not equal to the available quantity, the method proceeds with step 400 by rounding down the available quantity even if in the packaging specification a rounding up rule is defined. Rounding up the available quantity is not possible because there are not enough units on stock. In step 400 the same rounding process as in step 200 must be used. For example, if in step 200 a rounding process which rounds to complete sales units is used, in step 400 the available quantity must be rounded using the rounding process which rounds to complete sales units.
  After rounding down the available quantity, the method has to decide, within step 450, whether a remaining quantity has to be calculated or not. If the difference between the rounded required quantity and the rounded available quantity is larger than the smallest package size, which is defined in the packaging specification, the method calculates in step 470 a remaining requirement. In this embodiment, the remaining requirement is given by the difference between the required quantity and the rounded available quantity.
  The method ends with step 500, wherein the rounded required quantity and the rounded available quantity are returned to the calling system. If a remaining requirement was calculated, the method additionally returns the remaining requirement to the calling system.
  The calling system has to handle the difference between the rounded available quantity and the original required quantity and, if necessary, the remaining requirement.
  In other embodiments, where a plurality of product locations are defined, the method, as described above, is repeated for each product location until the requirement is completely confirmed or no product location is any longer available. In this case, the process may confirm for each product location only a part of the rounded required quantity whereby the method may consider different packaging specifications for each product location. If the required quantity should be delivered completely from one location, the whole required quantity is checked against the quantity on stock of each location.
  If the process does not confirm the complete original required quantity, in the last step 500 the remaining requirement for the last location is returned to the calling system.
  Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the rounding step 200 of Fig. 2. In this disclosure of the invention the rounding to pack sizes is used for the rounding process. In other embodiments other rounding methods, e.g. rounding to complete sales units, may be used. In a first step 210, the packaging specification is determined. The packaging specification holds all data for packaging and rounding like
• package units,
• package size,
• tolerance values (up and/or down tolerances) and
• rounding rules (up/down/to the nearest).

[0032] A package unit defines the unit for packages, e.g. carton or pallet. The package size defines the number of pieces which are packed into a package e.g. one carton contains ten pieces or one pallet contains hundred pieces. The tolerance values define an interval around the package size of a package unit. If the ordered quantity of products is within such an interval, the rounding process rounds the ordered quantity of products to the package size of the corresponding package unit. For example, if the package unit is one pallet containing 100 pieces and the tolerance interval for this package unit is [90 pieces; 110 pieces], then the rounding process rounds the ordered quantity of products to 100 pieces if the ordered quantity of products is within 90 pieces and 110 pieces.

[0033] A rounding rule defines how the rounding has to be performed by the rounding process. Three rounding rules are defined in this embodiment: rounding up, rounding down, and rounding to the nearest. 'Rounding up' means to round up the ordered quantity of products to the next larger multiple of the smallest package size, 'rounding down' means to round down the ordered quantity of products to the next smaller multiple of the smallest package size, and 'rounding to the nearest' means to round the ordered quantity of products to the nearest multiple of the smallest package size. For example, the smallest package size is 10 pieces. Then, a number of 38 pieces is rounded as follows:

rounding down → 30 pieces (30 is the next smaller multiple of 10)

rounding up → 40 pieces (40 is the next larger multiple of 10)

rounding to the nearest → 40 pieces (40 is the nearest multiple of 10)

Table 1 - an exemplary packaging specification

package unit	package size	tolerance value	rounding rule
1 package	2 pieces		up
1 carton	5 packages = 10 pieces	± 20 % (± 2 pieces)
1 pallet	10 cartons = 100 pieces	± 10 % (± 10 pieces)

[0034] One package contains two pieces. For the package unit 'package' tolerance values are not allowed. The rounding rule is defined as 'rounding up'. In this packaging specification the package unit 'package' is the smallest package unit.

[0035] One carton contains 5 packages whereby each package contains two pieces. The tolerance values for this package unit are defined as ± 20% (± 2 pieces). The resulting tolerance interval for the package unit 'one carton' is [8 pieces; 12 pieces].

[0036] One pallet contains ten cartons whereby each carton contains ten pieces. The tolerance values for the package unit 'pallet' are defined as ± 10% (± 10 pieces). The resulting tolerance interval for the package unit 'pallet' is [90 pieces; 110 pieces].

[0037] For the package unit 'carton' and 'pallet' rounding rules are not allowed and therefore not defined.

[0038] The following step 220 reads the tolerance values from the packaging specification and checks them in the next step 230 whether they are valid or not. In this embodiment, tolerances for the smallest packet unit are not allowed and therefore are not valid. If no tolerances are defined or the tolerances are not valid the method continues with step 240 performing the package rounding method. Otherwise, the method continues with step 250. In step 250 the tolerance interval is determined. The tolerance intervals are defined as percentage values, which define upper and/or lower bound values of the interval around the packet size of the package units. In other embodiments, absolute values for the tolerance intervals may be defined.

[0039] If only the upper bound is defined, the lower bound is given by the package size of the respective package unit. In the other case, where only the lower bound is defined, the upper bound is also given by the package size of the respective package unit.

Table 2 - an exemplary packaging specification using only upper and lower bounds for tolerances

package unit	package size	tolerance value	rounding rule
1 package	2 pieces		up
1 carton	5 packages = 10 pieces	+ 20 % (+ 2 pieces)
1 pallet	10 cartons = 100 pieces	-10 % (-10 pieces)

[0040] The tolerance interval for the package unit '1 carton' is [10 pieces; 12 pieces] whereby the lower bound (10 pieces) is given by the package size of 10 pieces. The tolerance interval for the package unit '1 pallet' is [90 pieces; 100 pieces] whereby the upper bound (100 pieces) is given by the package size of 100 pieces.
For the smallest package unit 'package' tolerance values are not allowed, therefore no tolerance interval can be calculated.

[0041] In the next step 260, the originally required quantity is checked whether as to it is within the tolerance interval or not. If the originally required quantity is not within the tolerance interval, package rounding 240 is performed. Otherwise tolerance rounding 270 is performed.

[0042] The following examples will demonstrate the behavior of the package rounding and the tolerance rounding.

Example 1 - package rounding

[0043] For the first example the packaging specification holds the following data:

package size:

6/12/18 pieces

rounding rule:

up

tolerances:

none

Required quantity	rounded required quantity	quantity on stock	Confirmed quantity	rounded and confirmed quantity
8 round up to
	12	15	12	12

[0044] The required quantity (first column) is 8 pieces. Before the availability check, the method rounds the required quantity up to 12 pieces (second column) according to the packaging specification. The availability check confirms the rounded required quantity of 12 pieces (fourth column) because the stock provides 15 pieces (third column). A second rounding step after the availability check is not necessary because the whole rounded required quantity (12 pieces) was confirmed by the availability check. The calling system holds the required quantity (8 pieces) and receives from the method the rounded confirmed quantity (12 pieces). The over-confirmation has to be handled by the calling system.

Example 2 - package rounding

[0045] The packaging specification for the second example holds the following data:

package size:

6/12/18 pieces

rounding rule:

down

tolerances:

none

Required quantity	Rounded required quantity	quantity on stock	Confirmed quantity	rounded and confirmed quantity	remaining requirement
20 round down to	18	15	15	12	8

[0046] The meaning of the columns is as described in example 1.

[0047] The required quantity is 20 pieces. Before the availability check, the method rounds the required quantity down to 18 pieces according to the packaging specification. The availability check confirms 15 pieces. Because the confirmation of the availability check (15 pieces in fourth column) differs from the rounded required quantity (18 pieces in second column), a second rounding step after the availability check is executed. This second rounding step rounds the confirmed quantity of 15 pieces down to 12 pieces. The calling system holds the required quantity of 20 pieces. The rounded confirmed quantity of 12 pieces and the remaining requirement of 8 pieces (in sixth column) are returned to the calling system. This remaining requirement of 8 pieces has to be handled by the calling system.

Example 3 - tolerance rounding

[0048] For the third example the packaging specification holds the following data:

Package size	Tolerances	rounding rule
10		Up
100	±5% (±5 units)
1000	±2% (±20 units)

Required quantity	quantity on stock	confirmed quantity	Rounded confirmed quantity
96	500	96	100

[0049] The rounding steps before and after the availability check may perform a tolerance rounding according to the above packaging specification. In the first step, the tolerance intervals, which are [95; 105] for package size 100 and [980; 1020] for package size 1000, are determined. For the smallest package size 10 no tolerances are defined. The required quantity of 96 pieces is within the interval [95; 105], and therefore it will be rounded to the package size 100. The process begins by checking the tolerance interval of the largest package size 1000. If the required quantity is below the tolerance interval the process continues by checking the interval of the next smaller package size 100. In this example the process needs two steps for determining the correct package size and tolerance interval. If these steps are performed after the availability check, the rounding-down-rule has to be used.

Example 4 - tolerance rounding (out of range of tolerances)

[0050] For the fourth example the packaging specification holds the following data:

package size	Tolerances	rounding rule
10		Up
100	±5% (±5 units)
1000	±2% (±20 units)

required quantity	quantity on stock	Confirmed quantity	rounded confirmed quantity
76	500	76	80

[0051] The rounding steps before and after the availability check may perform a tolerance rounding according to the above packaging specification. In the first step, the tolerance intervals, which are the same as in example 1, are determined. Like in example 1, the process begins by checking the tolerance interval of the largest package size 1000. Because the required quantity 76 is below the tolerance interval [980; 1020], the method performs a second step by checking the required quantity 76 against the tolerance interval [95; 105] of the next smaller package size 100. The required quantity is also below the second checked tolerance intervals [95; 105] and therefore the package rounding method will be done, because for the next smaller package size no tolerances are defined and for the smallest package size tolerances are not allowed. This leads to a rounded confirmed quantity of 80 pieces. The package rounding method rounds always to a multiple of the smallest package size and 80 pieces is the next multiple of 10 pieces according to the rounding-up rule. If these steps are performed after the availability check, the rounding-down-rule has to be used.

[0052] The up/down rule refers to the smallest package size. In other embodiments, a smallest selling package size may be defined, which may be larger than the smallest non selling package size. This information has to be part of the packaging specification.

[0053] In other embodiments, instead of the above mentioned rounding algorithm, which considers one or more packaging specifications for rounding, other rounding algorithm may be used (within the rounding steps 200 and 400 in Fig. 2) e.g. 'rounding to complete sales units' which rounds the required quantity to one or more given sales units or a 'rounding to demand quantities'. Other rounding algorithms are also in the scope of this disclosure. It must be considered that before and after the availability check the same rounding process has to be performed.

[0054] The present techniques can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor. Method steps according to the invention can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on the basis of input data, and by generating output data. The invention may be implemented in one or several computer programs that are executable in a programmable system, which includes at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data from, and transmit data to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, respectively. Computer programs may be implemented in a high-level or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly or machine code. The language or code can be a compiled or interpreted language or code. Processors may include general and special purpose microprocessors. A processor receives instructions and data from memories, in particular from read-only memories and/ or random access memories. A computer may include one or more mass storage devices for storing data; such devices may include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by or incorporated in ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

[0055] The computer systems or distributed computer networks as mentioned above may be used, for example, for producing goods, delivering parts for assembling products, controlling technical or economical processes, or implementing telecommunication activities.

[0056] To provide for interaction with a user, the invention can be implemented on a computer system having a display device such as a monitor or LCD screen for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to the computer system. The computer system can be programmed to provide a graphical or text user interface through which computer programs interact with users.

[0057] A computer may include a processor, memory coupled to the processor, a hard drive controller, a video controller and an input/output controller coupled to the processor by a processor bus. The hard drive controller is coupled to a hard disk drive suitable for storing executable computer programs, including programs embodying the present technique. The I/O controller is coupled by means of an I/O bus to an I/O interface. The I/O interface receives and transmits in analogue or digital form over at least one communication link. Such a communication link may be a serial link, a parallel link, local area network, or wireless link (e.g. an RF communication link). A display is coupled to an interface, which is coupled to an I/O bus. A keyboard and pointing device are also coupled to the I/O bus. Alternatively, separate buses may be used for the keyboard pointing device and I/O interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding specifications are provided, the method comprising
a first step of rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding specification, the required quantity of products;
a second step of checking availability of the rounded quantity of products; and
a third step of rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding specification, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rounding specification comprising at least one packaging specification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the packaging specification comprises
at least one rounding rule,
a plurality of different package sizes and
tolerance values associated with the plurality of package sizes;

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a fourth step of creating a remaining requirement of products if the difference between the rounded required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products is larger than the smallest package size given by the packaging specification, whereby the remaining quantity is given by the difference between the required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rounding comprises at least a package-rounding-process and a tolerance-rounding-process, whereby the package-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a multiple of the smallest package size, and whereby the tolerance-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a predetermined package size.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein tolerance intervals are determined which define upper and/or lower bounds around the package sizes for packages larger then the smallest package.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tolerance-rounding-process is performed if the packaging specification comprises valid tolerance values and the required quantity is within one of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the package-rounding-process is performed if the predetermined packaging specification comprises invalid tolerance values.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the package-rounding-process is performed if the predetermined packaging specification comprises valid tolerances and the given quantity is out of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

10. The method of one of claim 3 to 9, wherein the at least one rounding rule comprises at least one of a rounding-down rule, a rounding-up rule, and a rounding-to-the-nearest rule.

11. The method of one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the required quantity of products is rounded up to the smallest package size if the required quantity is smaller than the smallest package size.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prior to the first step of rounding,

determining a valid packaging specification out of the plurality of packaging specifications;

determining tolerance values from the determined packaging specification;

evaluating as to whether the determined tolerance values are valid;

determining the tolerance intervals given by the determined tolerance values if the determined tolerance values are valid;

checking as to whether the required quantity is within one of the determined tolerance intervals;

13. An apparatus comprising
a data storage device which stores a plurality of rounding specifications;
means for rounding, according to at least one rounding specification, a required quantity of products; and
means for checking availability of a rounded quantity of products.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for rounding a required quantity of products and for performing an availability check are adapted to perform the following steps:

determining a valid packaging specification;

determining tolerance values from the packaging specification;

evaluating as to whether the determined tolerance values are valid;

determining the tolerance intervals given by the determined tolerance values if the determined tolerance values are valid;

checking as to whether the required quantity is within one of the determined tolerance intervals;

rounding, according to the packaging specification, the required quantity of products;

checking availability of the rounded quantity of products;

rounding down, according to the packaging specification, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products; and

creating, if necessary, a remaining requirement of products.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method according to one of the claims 1 to 12, when loaded into a computer system.

Drawing